New covid virus more contagious but not virulent: Karnataka Health Minister

News Network

December 22, 2020

Bengaluru, Dec 22: Fears of another round of lockdown loom across the world after UK reported new variant of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Karnatak Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Monday tried to allay fears saying the virus could be more contagious but not virulent.

"Initial studies in the United Kingdom suggest that the corona virus may be more contagious than the present one but not more virulent," Sudhakar told reporters here.

A medical doctor by profession, Sudhakar however stressed about continuing precautions like wearing a mask, physical distance and sanitising hands.

Meanwhile, of the 291 passengers on a British Airways flight and 296 on an Air India flight who landed at the city airport on Monday, 136 have not yet submitted their negative test report..

"We have mandated RT-PCR test and quarantine for all passengers arriving from the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands as a precautionary measure," Sudhakar said.

"Travellers who arrived in the state from these 3 European countries during the last 14 days will be traced in the next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test," Sudhakar said.

The state government has set up kiosks at the city airport to screen all fliers from abroad.

Hotels, resorts and pubs allowing large gatherings on Christmas and New Year's Eve against Covid guidelines will face action, he said.

India has suspended flights from the UK from Tuesday night till December 31 as a precaution against the new coronavirus variant.

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Air India Express delays Mangaluru-Singapore direct flight due to low bookings

News Network

January 8,2025

Mangaluru: Air India Express (AIE) has postponed its much-anticipated direct flight service between Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) and Singapore, citing low bookings. Passengers who had booked tickets for the inaugural flight scheduled for January 21 and subsequent dates have been notified of the cancellation through email.

In its email, AIE assured passengers of alternative travel arrangements, including connecting flight options between MIA and Singapore. However, the decision to delay the direct service has left travelers and travel agents disappointed.

An AIE official attributed the postponement to operational challenges but clarified that the airline has not abandoned plans for the route. “We are committed to starting the service, but there is no immediate confirmation on the new launch date,” the official stated. He further explained that sustaining a route requires consistent demand, and seasonal travel alone is insufficient to justify operations.

Another AIE representative admitted that the number of bookings for the inaugural flight was below expectations but declined to disclose specific figures.

Rajesh H Acharya, director of HQ Connections Pte Ltd in Singapore and coordinator of the Singapore Tuluver community, expressed his disappointment. Acharya, who has been advocating for a direct flight between Mangaluru and Singapore since 2017, said, “After years of effort, we finally convinced the airline to start this service, but it has now been deferred.”

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Acharya posted: "Did not expect such behavior from @AirIndiaX, now owned by @TataCompanies & @SIAirlines. If there are issues, travelers deserve to be informed well in advance. This decision needs investigation at the highest level."

The delay has raised questions among the travel community, with many hoping the airline will address these concerns and provide a clear timeline for the launch of the Mangaluru-Singapore direct flight.

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